RURAL TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15924, 9 May 1912, Page 9

RURAL TOPICS.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL.' it is reported that several Ashburton farmers who purchased forward owes and wethers a short time ago for fattening purposes, have made handsome profits—in many instances up to 7s per head. A conference of the committee of tho Mothven Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Mcthven Ploughing Match Committee* will be held shortly to arrange for a ploughing match in the early spring. | Mr Thomas Dowling, of Springfield, Methvcn, threshed an area of 250 acres of oats, which averaged seventy-five bushels per acre, and 400 acres of wheat-, which averaged forty bushels per acre. j Farmers in the Ashburton County i are making the most of the fine. weather, and as the surface, of culti- ] vated soil lias quickly dried up, it will soon be ready for sowing. Tlio land is now in fine ploughable order, and every j available team is at work. It is re- | ported that the land brought under, cultivation in the county during the , present season will greatly exceed that sown lor the past five years. | Farm work in the Killincliy district, has been practically at a standstill during the past week. Most of the winter crop will have to go in on the one furrow, as the lateness of the season has left no time for skimming. Pea-sliel-ling is held up, owing to the paddocks 1 being too soft for a machine to travel over. The work of potato-digging is being proceeded with as the weather! permits, but owing to the' growth of weeds during the season the work of raising them is very tedious.